Criteria for Lung Transplant

Ideal candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Advanced lung disease with limited 2-year survival
• Oxygen dependent
• Age generally 70 years or younger
• Ambulatory and/or potential for rehabilitation
• Abstinence from tobacco use
• Adequate psychosocial support
• No significant associated comorbidities

Once listed as a lung transplant candidate, the patient’s referring primary care physician, pulmonologist and/or cardiologist continue to provide primary care while the patient waits for a suitable donor lung. Follow-up visits to Newark Beth Israel are scheduled at approximately one- to three-month intervals to monitor the candidate’s medical status. Following transplantation, the team collaborates with the referring physician to support patients in optimizing their respiratory and overall health.